Key holder



United States Patent KEY HOLDER Louis Kocsi, Garfield, N. J.

Application August 23, 1954, Serial No. 451,367

1 Claim. (Cl. 70456) This invention relates in general to improvements in key holders, and more specifically to a key holder which includes a plastic picture holder.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved key holder which includes a plastic picture holder in the form of a base for the key holder, the plastic picture holder including a pair of plastic halves which have selectively insertable therebetween a picture, the plastic halves being transparent to permit the viewing of the picture therethrough.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved key holder which includes a base in the form of a plastic picture holder, the key holder including a sleeve which has a dual purpose in holding together halves of the plastic picture holder and at the same time forming a proper support for keys.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved key holder which includes a spring member receivable in holes in keys the spring member being selectively compressible so as to frictionally engage the surfaces of the keys surrounding the holes therein whereby keys may be retained in a selected rotated position with respect to the sleeve and spring member.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective of the key holder which is the subject of this invention and shows one of the keys carried thereby rotated into position for use;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken through the longitudinal center of the key holder of Figure 1 and shows the relationship of the various parts thereof, the keys carried by the key holder being shown in dotted lines; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged exploded perspective view showing the various parts of the key holder.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the key holder which is the subject of this invention is referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The key holder includes a base which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 12. The base 12 is in the form of a plastic picture holder and will be set forth in more detail hereinafter. The base 12 has carried thereby suitable means for retaining keys in selected rotated position with respect to the base, the means being referred to in general by the reference numeral 14.

The base 12 includes a first plastic half 16 and a second Patented Oct. 18, 1955 plastic half 18. The plastic halves 16 and 18 are identical in outline and are formed of transparent plastic so that a picture 20 disposed therebetween may be clearly viewed.

The halves 16 and 18 of the base 12 are secured together at one end thereof by a sleeve 22. The sleeve 22 passes through a bore 24 in the half 18 and is threadedly received in an internally threaded bore 26 in the half 16. The sleeve 22 is provided intermediate its ends with a shoulder 28 which engages the half 18 and clamps the half 18 against the half 16 to hold the picture 20 disposed therebetween.

Disposed at the ends of the halves 16 and 18 remote from the sleeve 22 is a fastener 30. The fastener 30 passes through internally threaded bores 32 in the halves 16 and 18 and clamps the ends thereof remote from the sleeve 22 together.

As is best illustrated in Figure 2, the sleeve 22 includes an internally threaded bore 34. The bore 34 has adjustably received therein a fastener 36 which includes a head 38. The sleeve 22 has an end portion 40 disposed on the side of the shoulder 28 remote from the base 12. The end portion 40 has received thereover a coil spring member 42 which is also seated against the head 38.

When keys, such as the keys 44, are carried by the key holder 10, they are received by both the sleeve 22 and the spring member 42. After the keys 44 have been properly positioned, with respect to the spring member 42, the spring member 42 is compressed through the use of the fastener 36. When the spring member 42 is com pressed, the individual convolutions thereof are expanded and frictionally engage in the opening in the keys 44 through which the spring member 42 passes. The frictional engagement between the spring member 42 and the keys 44 is such that the keys 44 will be retained in rotated positions relative to both the spring member 42 and the sleeve 22. Thus, a selected one of the keys 44 may be turned to the position illustrated in Figure 1 for convenient usage.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A key holder comprising a base, a sleeve secured to said base for receiving keys, a fastener adjustably carried by said sleeve, a tubular spring member surrounding said sleeve and being adapted to be received within openings in keys, said fastener compressively engaging one end of said spring member to expand said spring member within the keys and retain the keys in selective rotated positions relative to said sleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 165,794 Coleman July 20, 1875 1,898,202 Murray Feb. 21, 1933 2,025,960 Sindler Dec. 31, 1935 

